This talk presents the intertwined history of technology and cryptology. It covers ancient devices used by the Romans through secure communications with spacecraft and everything in between. It illustrates how advances in communication pushed advances in cryptology, while the need to protect and process secrets helped advance computer and communication technology.
Ms. Jennifer Wilcox has been the Director of Education for the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum since 1999. For more than 20 years, a primary function of Ms. Wilcox’s work has been researching, creating, and presenting a variety of educational programs for students and adults covering a wide range of cryptologic history topics.